Wed. March 11
Art Exhibit
THOMPSON --- The Friends of the Thompson Public Library’s Art @ the Library will present “Quilts by Laura Salo” through March 26. 860-923-9779.

Blood Drive
PUTNAM --- The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Putnam Elks Club on Edmond Street. 1-800-RED CROSS.

Fri. March 13
Fund-raiser
WOODSTOCK --- The United Services 19th Annual Irish Night will be held at 6 p.m. at The Mansion at Bald Hill in Woodstock. Dinner and music plus a silent auction and drawings. $40 per person or $350 for table of 10. Benefits United Services Children and Family Programs. unitedservicesct.org/events/irish-night.

History Program
CANTERBURY --- The Canterbury Historical Society will present a program “Over There: The World War I Diaries of Dr. Jessie Weston Fisher” following the 7 p.m. business session at the Community Room of the Town Hall. Free. All welcome. Refreshments.

‘School of Rock’
PUTNAM --- The Complex Performing and Creative Arts Centre will present “School of Rock the Musical” at The Bradley Playhouse at 7:30 p.m. March 13 and 14 and at 2 p.m. March 15 at the Bradley Playhouse on Front Street. $16 for students and seniors; $19 for adults. 860-928-7887.

Sat. March 14
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present “Woodcock Watch” at 6:45 p.m. starting from the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $5 for CAS members; $10 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

Food Drive
PUTNAM --- A “Scouting for Food” drive for the Daily Bread Food Pantry will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the Cargill Council 64 Knights of Columbus Hall on Providence Street. Bring your non-perishable food items and tax-deductible monetary donations. The Easter Bunny will be there for the children. If you can’t get there in person, then please mail your check to Interfaith Human Services of Putnam, P. O. Box 281, Putnam, CT 06260. 860-928-7241.

Tues. March 17
Basketball Shoot-out
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Rotary Club will hold its annual Ray Brousseau All Star Senior Basketball Shoot-out at the Putnam High School gym. The girls’ game starts at 5:30 and the boys’ game starts at 7. Door and shoot-out prizes $3 for adults; $1 for students and seniors.

Thur. March 19
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present “Woodcock Watch” at 6:45 p.m. starting from the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $5 for CAS members; $10 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

Irish Program
KILLINGLY --- The Friends of the Killingly Library will present “Ireland Forever" at 7 p.m. at the Killingly Library.  All welcome. Free. Feel free to bring something for "show and tell", (something pertaining to Irish culture), or just a personal story you'd like to share.

Spring Outdoors
Spring Outdoors will be held throughout The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor through June 20. The fifth annual Spring Outdoors will feature walks, hikes, bikes, paddles, events and tours that will help you enjoy the stunning changes of season from beginning to end in The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor. A downloadable online guide  at TheLastGreenValley.org soon. Visit our website regularly as we are always adding new adventures to the Spring Outdoors lineup. 860-774-3300.

Hike
KILLINGLY --- The Last Green Valley’s Spring Outdoors Kick-off Hike will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at Old Furnace State Park. RSVP required:  860-774-3300.  

Legislative Forum
HAMPTON --- State Senator Dan Champagne and State Representative Doug Dubitsky are hosting a legislative town hall meeting from 6 to 9 p.m. at Hampton Town Hall on Main Street. Residents are invited to join the lawmakers for a casual conversation about the 2020 Legislative Session and any other issues that are important to them.

Pomfret Historical Society
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Historical Society will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. in the Old Pomfret Town House on Town House Road. Those interested in becoming a member and others are invited to attend. 860-460-6689.

Fri. March 20
Benefit Concert
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp will hold a “Dam” Fun Time Benefit Concert from 7 to 11 a.m. at Stonehurst at Hampton Valley. Sponsored by Stonehurst and Black Dog Bar & Grill to benefit the repair fund for the dam at the Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp in Pomfret. $40. Purchase tickets in advance: 860-974-1122.

..
 

I am a long-time fan of Eminem and catching glimpses of the Oscars last month was pleasantly surprised to see him perform one of my favorite songs, Lose Yourself. Eminem came from nothing, gave it everything he had and made himself famous. The song is not only his anthem, but anyone’s wishing to make the most of a chance.
As I was watching Eminem’s performance with my TV volume almost at the max, I felt myself wanting to phone-in to the show to tell the producers to please ask Mr. Eminem to PULL UP HIS PANTS! Eminem is not old by any stretch, but he is, in my humble opinion, too old to be running around on a stage with his pants below his buttocks. He’s an iconic performer who has earned his way as a superstar. He no longer needs to be either competing with the 20-somethings or proving anything to anybody! Then I remembered Jennifer Lopez’s halftime performance on the Superbowl the week prior.  She is, again, by no means old, and as a 50-year-old still looks quite fit.  Like Eminem, J Lo came from nothing and made herself a superstar. She seized her moment long ago, and is now an iconic performer.  However, I was aghast watching her run around the stage during the family-friendly Super Bowl, wearing little more than a bathing suit, shaking her bottom, spreading her legs and grabbing herself. I wanted to call the producers of the halftime show and tell them to please ask Ms. Lopez to PUT SOME PANTS ON!
Young people love iconic inspirations because they see themselves in them, not as competitors, but rather as symbols of achievement.  Older people love iconic inspirations because they remind them of that feeling of having nothing to lose. Why did J Lo base her performance on showcasing her body rather than her achievement? It seemed sort of pathetic and inappropriate for young children.  It seemed inappropriate for her own children.
And for that matter, why did Eminem run around on stage with his pants falling down?  It seemed like he was reliving the past rather than looking ahead to a future.  We all age and get to an understanding that we are not Peter Pan living amongst the Lost Boys in a land where we never grow up.  We actually do grow up and even though we don’t have to behave like a person without hopes, dreams or aspirations, we still get older and wiser and learn valuable lessons like physical appearance matters less, and inner strength, beauty and accomplishments matter more.
So, to Eminem and J Lo, I say “Put some pants on. Wear a belt and remember, you are great long-term performers because… you are talented! Lose yourself in that!”
Remember! Remember!
Kathy Naumann, possessor of NATURALLY curly hair and the understanding that you can’t control everything!

..

School of Rock
starts March 13
PUTNAM — The Complex Performing and Creative Arts Centre will present “School of Rock the Musical” at The Bradley Playhouse March 13, 14, and 15.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. March 13 and 14 and at 2 p.m. March 15 at the Bradley Playhouse on Front Street. Tickets are $16 for students and seniors and $19 for adults. 860-928-7887.
With the help of several local musicians, these student performers have become a rock band in their own rite. All of the music will be played live onstage at each performance. The cast of School of Rock the Musical is made up of students of The Complex and community youth between the ages of 11 and 18. Seana Hendrickson directs, with Emily Zornado music directing and Nichola Johnson choreographing.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award nominated musical follows wannabe-rock star Dewey Finn as he is kicked out of his band right before the Battle of the Bands competition. Down on his luck and looking for a way to pay rent, Finn impersonates his roommate and accepts a job as a substitute teacher at a posh school.



.